Electrode holder



Nov. 27, 1945. M. FADELEY 2,389,969

ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed Nov. 27, 1943 Patented Nov. 27, 1945 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE 2,889,969 Y mcraons nomen Gunn M. Firmensuche, om Application November zi, 194s, serial No. rubis 9 cum. (ci. :1s-s) This invention relates to improvements in holdersforelectrodesusedinelectricarcwelding and more particularly to improvements in holders for electrodes oi the rod or stick type. The primary object of the invention is the pro- 'vision of an electrode holder of the general character mentioned which is simple in design, economical to construct, and which a number 'of deiinite advantages in use which will be explained in detail hereinafter. A

Incertainelectricarcweldingprocessesas, for example, those employing copper-branle feed rods in connection with carbon arc electrodes for bonding rails. rebuilding brass guides, etc., and those employing consumable aluminum-bronze electrodes for welding or brazing malleable iron, etc., poisonous fumes are emitted and if inhaled by the operator for any appreciable length of time the operator becomes ill and is so incapacitated for a length of time. In accordance with the present invention I provide as an integral part of the electrode holder, or as an attachment thereto, an arrangement whereby the obnoxious fumes emitted in the welding process are rapidly withdrawn from the vicinity of the weld and discharged in a direction away from the operator. In this manner the probability of the operator inhaling such fumes is very materially lessened thereby increasing the well-being and eiiiciency of the operator. Another advantage of this arrangement is that the atmospheric conditions at and about the point of weld is suiiiciently improved to enable the operator to more readily ggtrve theprogress of the welding with leas Another specific object of the invention is the provision of an improved arrangement for cooling the parts of an arc welding electrode holder, said arrangement being preferabb but not necessarily incorporated in the holder structure as an integral part thereof. Particularly in carbon are welding a great deal of heat is evolved not only at the arc but also at the electrical connections and the current carrying parts of the holder and in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention the total heat thus evolved is all carried away by a simple arrangement of passing cooling iiuid over or throughalitheseconnectionsandpartsaswell asoverthenoneofweld.

Further speciiic objects of tle invention include the provision of an electrode holder for electric arc welding which a better balanceinthehandoftheuaerwherebydeilnitelybetterresultscanbeattainedwithoutadditional enort on the part of the user, and which provides for the ready interchangeability of electrode rods of diiierent diameters. The last object is obtainable, moreover, while yet providing for the emcient cooling of the rod and the pressure connection between the rod and the holder.

Yet another specific object of the invention is the 'provision of an improved support for supporting an electrode holder having certain of the characteristics outlined above, when such holder is not being actually used, whereby certain of the cooling and Ventilating features normally carried along with the holder are employed in an automatic manner to cool the tip of the electrode' which is secured in the holder. This apparatus and arrangement is highly advantageous, particularly in connection with carbon arc welding since the reduction in the ambient temperature of the electrode materially reduces the rate oi deterioration of the tip and appears to lend greater uniformity in the subsequent striking and maintenance of the arc.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed specincation and the accompanying drawing wherein there is disclosedl a preferred embodiment oi the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a welding electrode holder constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention, the holder being shown as resting in and on a support therefor oi novel construction;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, through a portion of the apparatus of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, through another portion of the apparatus of Figure i; and

Figure 4 is a plan view of a fragmentary part of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, reference numeral Il designates a metallic tube of suitable current carrying qualities and welded to the outer end of this tube is a pipe coupling or nipple ii. Screw-threadedly received in the outer end of the coupling ii is a pipe bushing or reducer i2 into which, in turn, is screw threaded a length 0i pipe il. An aperture is provided in the side waliofthepipelengthilandweldedtothe outer surface of this length in concentric relation with the aperture is a nut i4 adapted to receive a bolt il. The cable carrying current-to the apparatus comprises, in accordance with usual practice, a nexible metallic core i3 and an n outer covering of insulation l1. In assembling the apparatus the insulation is removed from the end portion of the core and this portion is then inserted in the pipe length I3 as clearly shown in Figure 2. Further, this end portion is rigidly clamped in the pipe i3 by the bolt Il and, it desired, a shield I3 may be interposed between the about the electrical connection described above consisting of an end member l! in which the tube I is tightly iltted, an opposite member 26,'

and an interconnecting band 2i. Parts i3, 20 and 2| are preferably welded or soldered together and, as shown, the cable I6, I1 extends through a central opening in the end member 20, a grommet 22 being provided to sealthe annular space between the cable and member. Extending downwardly and rearwardly fromthe lower portion of the end member 20 is a nipple 23 having a bore therethrough extending in the direction of the interconnection between the cable and the connector i3. A flexible hose 24 carrying air under pressure is fitted to the nipple 23 to supply cooling air to the space within the casing |9-2i.

Welded to the end of tube Il is aninteriorly threaded tubular member or pipe coupling 26 the principal axis of which intersects and is normal to the principal axis of thetube I0.` A second tubular member or nozzle 26 is welded to the opposite side of the coupling 25 in general continuation of the tube I6. Interconnecting the tubes I6 and 26 is a pair oi' arcuately curved tubes 21 passing around opposite sides of the coupling 26 and preferably in contact therewith. It should be understood, however, that the air passages thus provided by the tubes 21 may be provided equally well by suitable members which utilize the outer surface of the coupling 25 as a portion of the walls of the passages. Air is admitted into the tube i0 through a slot 23 which is positioned within the housing i3-2I and on the opposite side thereof from the inlet 23. It will be observed that this construction requires the air coming in the inlet 23 to pass over and/ or about both sides of the interconnection between the current supplying cable and the electrode holder so that this interconnection as well as other adjacent parts of the holder are eiliciently cooled.

Screw-threadedly received in opposite ends of the coupling 25 are the bushings 2! which are adapted to receive the rod or stick electrode 30. To releasably retain the electrode 30 in the bushings 23 I provide a plunger 3l which is slideably mounted in the tube il and the outer end of which passes through an aperture in the side wall of the coupling 25 and into engagement with the electrode as shown in Figure 3. Referringto Figure 2, the opposite end of the plunger 3l is secured to a spider 32 which, in turn, is fastened within a sleeve 33 slideably mounted in the tube In. A coil spring 34 housed within the tube In and interposed between the bushing `I2 and sleeve 33 is provided to maintain resilient pressure on the plunger 3i to hold thesame in pressure engagement with the electrode 30. A trigger 35 connected to the sleeve 33 and extending out through a longitudinal slot 36 formed in the side wall of tubey Il! provides means enabling the outer surface of the metallic core and the inner sleeve 33 and consequently the rod 3| to be retracted thus releasing the electrode 33. n

A curved tube 31 having a bell-shaped inlet end 3l is attached to the tube 23 in such manner that the air moving through to tubes I3; 21 and 26 in series will create a suction in' the tube 31 to withdraw air and gases from above the inlet 38 and comingle the same with the air stream passing out of the tube 26. It will be observed that the inlet 33 to the tube 31 is directed toward and is adjacent the operating or arc end of the electrode 3l. The holder also includes a handle 39 which is maintained parallel with but spaced above the housing I 9-2I by a bracket .I0 which is clamped onto an integral shank of the end member il of this housing.

With the parts of the holder assembled in the manner indicated and the cable Il connected to a suitable source of welding current while the conduit 24 is connected to a suitable source of air under pressure, it will be `understood that the holder thus provided may be readily wielded by grasping the handle 36 to bringthe tip of the electrode 30 into arcing position with respect to the work to be welded.` I have found that the holder thus constructed is well balanced about the handle 33, the weight of the housing 2l and contents as well as the weight or the suspended portionsof the electric cable and air line being offset by the weight of the extended tube Il and electrode 33 thereby enabling the holder to be manipulated for long periods of time without undue fatigue. Inasmuch as the ow of electricity along a conductor is pretty much concentrated at the exposedsuriaces-of the conductor the tube Ill provides an efiicient current carrying support which at the same time is light in weight as well as possessing the further advantage of housing the releasable means for retaining the electrode in the holder. It should be observedthat the design of the parts which contact, i. e. the bushings 23 in the specic embodiment illustrated, is

' holdelectrodes of varying diameters, it is desirable in most instances to employ bushings having small internal diametersV for the smaller diametered electrodes. The exposed natureV of the ilanges of these bushings enable such changes to be readily eiIected.

The passage of air through or about all the principal parts and connections of the y maintains the assembly in a cool efiicient operating condition. This is especially truek as regards the electrical connections between the holder and the electrode which connections normally evolve such quantities of heat as to` heretofore rapidly heat the holder to dangerously high temperatures. In the holder described herein the cooling of these connections is positive and emcient and the evolvedgheat is rapidly carried away with the air stream and discharged from the nozzle 26 in a direction away from the operator or user. metallic parts which are in contact with and/or closely adjacent to the electrode 33 is especially efficient due to the adjacent circuitous paths of the air stream over the `outer surfaces of these parts. As stated above, the action of the air stream in the nozzle 23 in conjunction with the tube 31 provides an emcient aspirator which is operative to rapidly withdraw the gases or fumes The heat exchange between the s,aso,oeo 3 whichevolvefromthesonsotweldadiacsntthe tionatubularcurrentoonductivemanbeaslec tipoithselectrodeliandtomixthesamewith tricalconnectlngmeanssscuredtooneendog theairstreamwhichiseiectedtromthenolle ssidmemberandldaptedtobeconnectsd IIinadIrectionawayfromtheopei-atoras toacurrentconductivecablaahousingabout pointed out above. lnthismsnnerthewelder l saidmeansandthesdiacentendportionoisaid lling theapparatus of the inventioncan observe member, a handle, current conductive means his work quite closely without danger oi' insecuredtotheotherendofsaidmembertoretain halingtheobnoxiousorpoisonoustumesarising awelding electrodemeanstoconductcooling i'romtheweldingprocess. Horeoventherapid iluidintossidhousing,andapsssageproviding withdrawal of the gases and fumes from the 1 intercommunication between the space within holder and the electrode cools the upper end of the effective length of the electrode while the projecting end of such length is cooled by the air stream created by the aspirator 21. To provide for the more rapid cooling of the tip of the electrode and to provide also a convenient support to retain the assembled holder and electrode when not in use I preferably employ the supporting apparatus shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. Such further apparatus consists of any suitable base or support Ii-to which is secured a saddle 42 adapted to receive the housing member 2i of the holder proper. Also supported on the base 4I is a conically-shaped open-topped receptacle I3 across the top of which may be laid the tube 26 and a portion of the tube III. This positions the electrode I0 centrally within the receptacle 43. Extending from the top edge of the receptacle, down along one side thereof, and thence upwardly in the center thereof is a tube u which is operative to conduct the air stream issuing from the nozzle 2l into direct impingement with the end or tip of the electrode Il as indicated in Figure 1. In this manner the tip of the electrode is rapidly cooled between welding operations and in practice the cooled electrode presents the advantages of facilitating the initiation ofthe arc and of materially reducing the rate of deterioration of the electrode, if oi carbon.

It should now be apparent that I have provided an improved arc welding electrode holder which accomplishes the objects initially set out. The attainment of these objects, principally as they concern the cooling of the parts of the holder and the electrode does not, however, necessi-v tate a heavy or unwieldy instrument. In fact, the weight of the lpresent holder is considerably less than those now in general commercial use and the spaced positioning of the handle 2l lends a nicety ci' balance to the assembly thereby supplementing more eiiectively the personal skill of the Welder employing the assembly.

'Ihe above speciiically described embodiment of the invention should be considered as illustrative only as obviously many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope oi' the invention, Reference should therefore be had to the appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. An electrode holder comprising in combinasaidhousingandthespacewithinsaidmember wherebysaidcoolinguidisconductedthrough said member and into heat exchanging relation with said second mentioned means.

2.Apparatusaccordingtoclaim lfurtherincluding a second tubular member providing a continuation of the connned iiuid passage through said ilrst mentioned member on the side of said second mentioned means opposite said ilrst mentioned tubular member.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 further including a second tubular member providing a continuation of the confined Ailuid passage through said first member on the side of said second mentioned means opposite said first mentioned member, and a curved aspirator tube having an inlet directed toward the tip of an electrode held in said second mentioned means and an outlet discharging into said last mentioned iiuid passage.

4. A support adapted to receive a portable electrode holder having a current and coolant conducting tube with the discharge end thereof positioned on the opposite side of the electrode from the hand grip portion of the holder comprising means to engage said tube and means providing a curved iiuid conducting passage having its inlet positioned at the discharge end of said tube and its outlet positioned adjacent the tip of the electrode held in said holder when said holder is in position on said support whereby coolant iurnished said holder may be caused to impinge on said tip.

5. An electrode holder comprising in combination a current conductive tubular element, a hollow iitting extending across the outer end of said tubular element and secured thereto, current conductive interchangeable bushings detachably secured in either end of said iltting and adapted to receive an elongated electrode, a plunger in said tubular element to engage said electrode, yieldable means in said tubular element, urging said plunger into yieidable pressure engagement with said electrode, and a manually engageabie element secured to said plunger and extending outwardly through an opening in the sidewall of said tubular element for retracting said plunger.

6. An electrode holder comprising in combination a current conductive tubular element, current conductive bushings detachably secured in either end ot said element and adapted to receive an elongated electrode, a tube connected to said element for supporting the same, a second tube positioned on the opposite side of said element in general continuation of said ilrst mentioned tube, means to conduct cooling fluid into the end of said nrst mentioned tube Opposite the end thereof adjacent said element, and means to conduct said cooling i'luid into heat exchanging relation with the outer surface of said element comprising metallic 'means providing a iiuid passage means m retain an electrode adjacent the other end thereof, means to connect a welding current conductive cable to said support. and fluid con-v ducting means carried by said support and lncluding an aspirator operative to withdraw the atmospheric gases from a. zone surrounding the operative tip of said electrode and todischarge the same in a direction away from said handle,

t said means to conduct num being positioned m l aasaooo away from said handle, means to conduct -fluid under pressure into said conduit, and an aspirator tube having `its inlet end directed toward the tip of the electrode held in said retaining means and its outlet endfdischargins into said conduit.

9. An electrode holder comprising in combination an elongated current conductive support having means at one end to detachably receive a welding electrode and means in said support to releasably retain said electrode, means at the other end of said support to attach a current conductive cable thereto, and a handle spaced from but extendingr generally parallel with the end portion Voi! said support adjacent said cable connectingymeans, said handle being secured to said support by a strut extending from the end of said handle which is closest said electrode receiving means'of said support. GILBERT M. PADEL-Ell'.` 

